Shaker Literature from David D. Newell

Much of the early material written about Shakers came from "apostates," former members of the group who chose to leave. Some left with hard feelings, which influenced their accounts. Item 15 is regarded as one of the better such accounts, a balanced look at the Shakers by Thomas Brown, who apparently joined them for a while. It is titled An Account of the People Called Shakers, published in 1812. Though more balanced, the book was not well received by the Shakers. $415.

Many people today know the Shakers more by their furniture than their faith. Their furniture, notably their chairs, was designed to be functional, not artistic or comfortable. Today they are regarded as artistic and collectible, though they are still uncomfortable. Item 23 is An Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of the Shakers' Chairs, Foot Benches, Floor Mats, Etc., from the New Lebanon community in New York, published in 1875. The Shakers supported themselves by selling items they made and grew. $1,100.

Much of what the Shakers sold was worth the money, but the Harvard, Massachusetts, Shakers found a source of income that probably was not. The title of this undated piece says it all: Shaker Medicinal Spring Water, It is a Cure for Bright's Disease of the Kidneys, Stone in the Bladder and Kidneys, Dyspepsia, Liver Complaint, Dropsy, Salt Rheum, and Scrofulous Humors, Loss of Appetite, General Debility, Indigestion, Constipation, and Diseases of the Urinary Organs, and an Antidote for Drugs and Intoxicants. Of course, water is usually good no matter what ails you, but not often a cure. Item 21. $50.

Item 55 is one of numerous short pieces produced by Elder Frederick Evans of the Lebanon community, circa 1888. Evans was an unconventional Shaker, involved in political and other secular issues from which Shakers generally shied away. This one is entitled White Cross Celibacy, and in it Evans advocates the creation of a class of intellectual celibates, from which all of our legislators and other officials would be chosen. Considering the problems our legislators seem to repeatedly have with matters of the flesh, it looks like Evans may have been on to something. $200.

Evans got a bit carried away on this broadside: Carnivorous Parrots. Elder Evans' Theory of the Wonders of Animal Life, published in 1882. Elder Evans evidently made the mistake of believing everything he read, which led to his interesting theory. Evans was a vegetarian, so his dislike for eating meat was reinforced when he read an article about a New Zealand parrot that was supposedly eating sheep. The story indicated that these parrots had decided to try out some mutton that humans were drying on a line, developed a taste for it, and became hunters of live sheep. Of course this is absurd, but Elder Evans was too trusting, and thereby used this ridiculous story to demonstrate how eating meat can change your personality. Item 47. $230.

Item 125 was something of a last ditch effort to revive Shaker communities after the turn of the century, circa 1906. It is Present Day Shakerism, by Anna White. Recognizing that austere religious beliefs were not making it with 20th century people, she attempted to repackage the faith in a form more pleasing to a modern audience. The book says little about the Shaker faith, but instead focuses on the joy of community living, which was being updated somewhat with the times. It was too little too late, as the book was not able to rejuvenate Shaker recruitment. $135.

David D. Newell - Shaker Literature may be reached at 413-628-3240 or info@shakerlit.com. Their website is found at www.shakerlit.com.